System and methods for reducing component wear in an imaging device

ABSTRACT

An imaging device having a controller, a print engine and a raster image processor including methods for reducing wear in one or more components of the imaging device, the raster image processor including instructions for receiving a print job, determining whether one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled prior processing the print job, adjusting a default printing performance of the imaging device upon a determination that the one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled, generating a rasterized image for each page of the print job following the adjusting, and sending each rasterized image to the print engine of the imaging device for printing, wherein the adjusting the printing performance of the imaging device reduces the component wear in the imaging device and extends an allowable life of the one or more imaging components.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to the U.S. patent application Ser.Nos. 15/825,659 and 15/825,210, both entitled “System and Methods forReducing Component Wear in an Imaging Device,” and which are filedcontemporaneously herewith and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, ETC.

None.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and methods for reducingcomponent wear in imaging devices and, more particularly, to a systemand methods for reducing component wear in an imaging device byadjusting the printing performance of the imaging device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Upon the completion of printing a print job, a print engine of animaging device typically shuts down, stopping all motors and turning offhigh voltage supplies. When another print job is in the print queueafter printing a print job, the print engine is restarted. The imagingdevice may be configured to start the print engine following the receiptof a print job in the imaging device. In addition, the print engine maybe prevented from shutting down following the completion of a print jobwhile another print job is being processed into a printable format by araster image processor (RIP).

Since it is possible for the RIP to take time in generating a printableimage for the print engine, the print engine may wait for a relativelylong time for an image to be available prior to starting printing. Theremay be various reasons for the delay, such as, but not limited to, jobcomplexity, job size, poor network quality or host communication, and/orformatting problems. In other scenarios, print data may be lacking orlost as the print job is transmitted over a network such that the printjob will not be printed. As a consequence of the print engine operatingwhile images are being generated by the RIP, excessive churn may beincurred in the imaging device, which wears out printing components anduses up supplies within the device faster. Technical support is oftenrequested to change settings in the imaging device until a minimalamount of churn remains.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system and methods for reducingcomponent wear in an imaging device. There also exists a need forautomatically adjusting functions in the imaging device based on thedetected churn and reducing the component wear.

SUMMARY

An imaging device and methods for reducing wear in one or morecomponents of the imaging device are disclosed. The disclosed imagingdevice includes a controller having an associated memory, a raster imageprocessor and a print engine.

In one example embodiment, the method includes receiving a print job,determining whether one or more function features in the imaging deviceis disabled prior processing the print job, adjusting a default printingperformance of the imaging device upon a determination that the one ormore function features in the imaging device is disabled, generating arasterized image for each page of the print job following the adjusting,and sending each rasterized image to a print engine of the imagingdevice for printing, wherein the adjusting the printing performance ofthe imaging device reduces the component wear in the imaging device.

In another example embodiment, the method includes receiving a printjob, determining whether a default printing performance of the imagingdevice needs to be adjusted based on a previous print job followingreceipt of the print job and upon a positive determination, disabling atleast one of a set of functions performed in the imaging device forachieving the default printing performance, and sending a rasterizedimage corresponding to each page of the print job to a print engine ofthe imaging device for printing, wherein the disabling the at least oneof the set of functions reduces the default printing performance of theimaging device and reducing the default printing performance results ina reduction of the wear on the one or more imaging components in theimaging device thus increasing an allowable life of the one or moreimaging components.

The abovementioned methods may be performed by a raster image processorof the imaging device. Other embodiments, objects, features andadvantages of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from the detailed description, the accompanying drawings and theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the presentdisclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparentand will be better understood by reference to the following descriptionof example embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. Like reference numerals are used to indicate the same elementthroughout the specification.

FIG. 1 is an imaging system, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart including a method of adjusting printingperformance in an imaging device based on a presence of excess churn,according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing a method for processing a print job in araster image processor, according to a first example embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart depicting one example method for processing aprint job in a print engine, performed in conjunction with the examplemethod in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a method for processing a print job in araster image processor, according to a second example embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart depicting one example method for processing aprint job in a print engine, performed in conjunction with the examplemethod in FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the detailsof construction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure iscapable of other example embodiments and of being practiced or of beingcarried out in various ways. For example, other example embodiments mayincorporate structural, chronological, process, and other changes.Examples merely typify possible variations. Individual components andfunctions are optional unless explicitly required, and the sequence ofoperations may vary. Portions and features of some example embodimentsmay be included or substituted for those of others. The scope of thedisclosure encompasses the appended claims and all availableequivalents. The following description is therefore, not to be taken ina limited sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined bythe appended claims.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology usedherein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use herein of “including”, “comprising”, or “having” andvariations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter andequivalents thereof as well as additional items. Further, the use of theterms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity butrather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

In addition, it should be understood that example embodiments of thedisclosure include both hardware and electronic components or modulesthat, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as ifthe majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware.

It will be further understood that each block of the diagrams, andcombinations of blocks in the diagrams, respectively, may be implementedby computer program instructions. These computer program instructionsmay be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine,such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other dataprocessing apparatus may create means for implementing the functionalityof each block or combinations of blocks in the diagrams discussed indetail in the description below.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium that may direct a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium may produce an article of manufacture, including an instructionmeans that implements the function specified in the block or blocks. Thecomputer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus implement the functions specified in the block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the diagrams support combinations of means forperforming the specified functions, combinations of steps for performingthe specified functions, and program instruction means for performingthe specified functions. It will also be understood that each block ofthe diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the diagrams, can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems thatperform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of specialpurpose hardware and computer instructions.

Disclosed is a system and different methods for reducing component wearin an imaging device. Since component wear is hastened by excess churnin the imaging device, methods for reducing component wear includemethods for reducing excess churn in the imaging device. For purposes ofthe present disclosure, churn refers to the state of operating theimaging device with the motors running while utilizing imaging supplieshaving toner. An imaging supply (e.g., toner cartridge, imaging unitcontaining photoconductive members and toner development rollers) thatis exposed to excessive churn may not meet an expected life goal due toprint quality problems that occur because of the churn. In one examplescenario, toner may be pressed through a nip and generate a charge.However, when toner is not transferred to a media sheet, it is recycledthrough the imaging supply and charged again. Following many cyclesthrough the imaging supply, toner may heat up, deform, and may notcharge properly, causing print quality problems. To reduce churn in theimaging device, a preset printing performance, which refers to a time-tofirst-print and a number of throughputs that the imaging device iscapable of achieving, is thus reduced.

FIG. 1 shows an imaging system 100 according to one example embodiment.Imaging system 100 includes a client device 105 and an imaging device110 communicatively connected to each other through a network 115.Client device 105 includes an imaging driver 120 and a memory 125 forstoring a print job 130 having one or more pages 130 a-130 n. Imagingdevice 110 includes a controller 135 having an associated memory 140, araster image processor (RIP) 145, and a print engine 150.

Client device 105 includes imaging driver 120 for allowingcommunications between client device 105 and imaging device 110. Imagingdriver 120 may be a printer/scanner driver software program for imagingdevice 110. Client device 105 may be any computing device capable ofgenerating a print job and may be, but is not limited to, a computer,smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, etc. One or more print jobs 130 may becreated and stored in client device 105. Each print job 130 may includeone or more pages 130 a-130 n, such as pages 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, 130 nas shown in FIG. 1, where n represents the total number of pages in theprint job. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatwhile one client device 105 and one imaging device 110 are shown in FIG.1, multiple client devices 105 and/or multiple imaging devices 110 maybe present in imaging system 100 and communicatively coupled via network115.

Imaging device 110 may be a single function printer or a multifunctionmachine (sometimes referred to as an all-in-one device) capable ofprinting, scanning, making copies, e-mailing and/or other functions.Imaging device 110 may be communicatively connected to client device 105via a communications link such as network 115. Network 115 may refer toany structure that facilitates electronic communication between multiplecomponents and may operate using wired or wireless technology. Network115 may include communications over the Internet. The communicationslink may be a standard communication protocol, such as, for example,universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or IEEE 802.xx.

RIP 145 may be housed within imaging device 110 (see FIG. 1). RIP 145may be any raster image processor available or known at the time offiling the present application, for converting each print job page 130 ato 130 n of print job 130 to a rasterized image or other printableformat. The conversion of each page 130 a to 130 n of print job 130 byRIP 145 results in generating a rasterized set of images 160. Rasterizedimages 160 a to 160 n (shown as 160 a, 160 b, 160 c and 160 n in FIG. 1)correspond to individual pages 130 a, 130 b, 130 c and 130 n,respectively, of print job 130. In some example embodiments, theresulting rasterized set of images 160 may be stored in memory 140 forlater retrieval by controller 104. In other example embodiments,rasterized images 160 a-160 n may each be directly sent to print engine150 for printing without storing. While RIP 145 is depicted in FIG. 1 asbeing part of imaging device 110, RIP 145 may be a component of clientdevice 105 in other example embodiments. In still other exampleembodiments, RIP 145 may be a component separate from client device 105and imaging device 110 but communicatively connected to both clientdevice 105 and imaging device 110 via network 115.

Print engine 150 receives rasterized images 160 a-160 n associated withprint job 130 from RIP 145. As is known in the art, print engine 150 mayinclude a motor, gears, and imaging supplies controlled by controller135 and utilized for printing an image onto a media sheet passed throughimaging device 110.

In one example embodiment of processing print jobs, pages 130 a-130 n ofprint job 130 may be transmitted from client device 105 to imagingdevice 110 through network 115 via imaging driver 120. Additionalinformation, such as, for example, the user's printing preferences ormetadata relating to print job 130 may also be sent to imaging device110. RIP 145 then converts pages 130 a, 130 b, and 130 c tocorresponding rasterized images 160 a, 160 b, and 160 c, respectively,and may store these images in memory 140. For purposes of the presentdisclosure, a print command may be at least an instruction from RIP 145to print engine 150 for print engine 150 to start printing. The printcommand indicates that at least one of rasterized images 160 a-160 n isgenerated and ready for printing. The additional information indicatedby a user of client device 105 or imaging device 110 as well aslimitations relating to an imaging capability of imaging device 110known to controller 135 are considered by controller 135 when printingimages 160 a-160 n.

In the present disclosure, imaging device 110 includes an Advanced Start(AS) function and a Smart Run-Out (SRO) function which, when bothenabled, improves a printing performance of imaging device 110. In oneexample embodiment, the AS and SRO functions are enabled to set adefault printing performance of imaging device 110. It is to beunderstood that while the AS and SRO functions are depicted in FIG. 1 asblocks of instructions stored in memory 140, the AS and/or SRO functionsmay be instructions stored in a storage medium remotely located fromimaging device 110 and communicatively connected to imaging device 110via controller 135.

The AS function includes one or more instructions for sending a startcommand to print engine 150 upon receipt of a print job in RIP 145. Indoing so, print engine 150 is ready to print the images associated withthe print job in time for the generation of images in RIP 145 to becomplete. When enabled, the AS function pre-starts print engine 150 asRIP 145 generates images for each page of the received print job. Inhaving print engine 150 fully powered on or before RIP 145 completelygenerates an image of the received print job, a printing performance ofimaging device 110 is improved by specifically decreasing the amount oftime it takes to produce a printed copy or the time to first print.

The SRO function may include a sequence of instructions for preventingprint engine 150 from shutting down or turning off while a print job isstill being processed by RIP 106 or upon determining that a new printjob is received by RIP 145. In some example embodiments, print engine150 may include instructions for sending a request to RIP 145 for astatus thereof (e.g., an SRO request) in order to determine whether ornot RIP 145 is busy or not in processing print job 130. When enabled,the SRO function helps improve the printing performance of imagingdevice 110 by increasing a throughput of print engine 150.

Raster image processors in current image forming devices typically waitfor one or more problems to be resolved prior to completing the printingoperation which may contribute to the excessive churn. For example, RIP145 may wait for print job 130 to be transmitted from client device 105to imaging device 110 no matter the quality or condition of network 115.In another example embodiment, RIP 145 may continue to generate imagesfor each job page no matter how problematic the page is or the length oftime spent on the image generation. Print engine 150 may also be warmedup longer while waiting for an image to be received from RIP 145. Any ofthese aforementioned scenarios may not only cause the churn but alsoeventually contribute to causing wear and reducing the life of imagingcomponents and/or supplies.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of one example method 200 of adjusting theprinting performance of imaging device 110 of FIG. 1 based on a presenceof excess churn. Example method 200 includes powering imaging device 110to a full printing performance, detecting a slow image generationcausing the excess churn, reducing the printing performance by disablingthe AS and SRO functions, and enabling the AS and SRO functions when ithas been determined that imaging device 110 has recovered from the slowimage generation.

In one example embodiment, imaging device 110 may be powered oninitially or from being not in use for over a period of time (also knownas a “power on reset”). In other example embodiments, imaging device 110may be in an idle state where imaging device 110 is waiting to receive aprint job from client device 105 (also known as a “sleep” or “standby”mode).

At block 205, following power on reset of imaging device 110 or receiptof a print job (in the context where imaging device 110 is in idlestate), controller 135 may set the performance of imaging device 110 tofull printing performance. In a full printing performance, both the ASand SRO functions are enabled in imaging device 110 in order to decreasethe time to first print and to increase throughput of imaging device110.

At block 210, either RIP 145 or print engine 150 may detect excess churngenerally caused by slow image generation. Slow image generation may becaused by at least one of the following scenarios: (1) when RIP 145detects problems in network 115; (2) when RIP 145 processes aproblematic print job and/or job page(s); and/or (3) when print engine150 waits for a print job page image from RIP 145 (i.e., a job pageimage is not ready for printing onto a media sheet when print engine 150is available and ready to print it). Problems of network 115 mayinclude, but are not limited to, a low bandwidth or extreme trafficalong the communication path, such as collisions, lost packets, etc. Aproblematic print job and/or job page(s) may refer to print jobs thatare in a format which cannot be processed by RIP 145 or pages that maybe too complex for RIP 145 to process. Print engine 150 may detect slowimage generation when a job page image from RIP 145 associated with aprint job is not ready in time for printing onto a media sheet by printengine 150.

At block 215, controller 104 reduces the printing performance of imagingdevice 110 to address the churn detected at block 210. Reducing theprinting performance of imaging device 110 includes disabling at leastone of the AS and SRO functions in imaging device 110. In one exampleembodiment, print engine 150 may not respond to (i.e., it may ignore)the AS command from RIP 145. Alternatively or in addition, print engine150 may not send the SRO request to RIP 145. In a second exampleembodiment, RIP 145 may not send an AS command to print engine 150.Alternatively or in addition, RIP 145 may indicate to print engine 150of its “not busy” status or ignore an SRO request from print engine 150.

As a result of disabling the AS function, imaging device 110 may incur arelatively slower time to first print than when print engine 150automatically prints a print job once completed in RIP 145. As a resultof disabling the SRO function, the throughput of print engine 150 isalso relatively less than when the SRO function is enabled because printengine 150 would be stopped and restarted every time following a printjob.

At block 220, RIP 145 or print engine 150 may then detect recovery ofimaging device 110 from the churn detected at block 210 while imagingdevice 110 is operated at the reduced printing performance. Detectingrecovery may include determining whether or not the churn detected fromblock 210 still exists following a predetermined number of print jobs orimages being processed. Detecting recovery may further includedetermining whether or not adequate bandwidth is available in thecommunication path.

In one example embodiment where the churn is detected in RIP 145, RIP145 may include instructions to detect whether the communications linkbetween imaging device 110 and network 115 is being utilized at fullbandwidth and to determine whether problematic jobs still existfollowing the processing of a predetermined number of print job pages.In another example embodiment where the churn is detected in printengine 150, print engine 150 may include instructions to determinewhether or not, following the printing of a predetermined number ofprint job images, the print job images are received by print engine 150from RIP 145 just in time, i.e., as soon as print engine 150 is readyfor printing.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a first example method 300 of the presentdisclosure where print engine 150 manages the excess churn. FIGS. 4A and4B show a second example method 400 of the present disclosure where RIP145 manages the excess churn. As is known in the art, processesperformed by RIP 145 and by print engine 150 are separate complementaryprocesses such that example methods 300 and 400 are each split into twoparts: FIGS. 3A and 4A include actions that are performed by RIP 145while FIGS. 3B and 4B include actions that are performed by print engine150 in conjunction with the actions in FIGS. 3A and 4A, respectively. Itwill be appreciated that in the present disclosure the actions performedin FIG. 3A may be performed simultaneously with the actions in FIG. 3Band that the actions performed in FIG. 4A may be performedsimultaneously with the actions in FIG. 4B.

Reference will now be made with respect to first example method 300 inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Example method 300 may include print engine 150receiving the images from RIP 145, detecting slow image generationcausing the churn, and based on the slow image generation, disabling theAS function by not responding to or ignoring an AS command from RIP 145(between blocks 334 and 356 of FIG. 3B), disabling both AS and SROfunctions when an image is not received within a predetermined timeout(block 352, FIG. 4B), and disabling the SRO function by not sending anSRO request to RIP 145 (between blocks 360 and 362, FIG. 3B). It will benoted that FIG. 3A includes actions that are known in the field ofgenerating images for print job pages.

Referring to FIG. 3A, imaging device 110 may initially be set in an idlestate. In response to receipt by RIP 145 of a print job from clientdevice 105 (block 302), RIP 145 may send an AS command to print engine150 at block 304 (print engine 150 may receive the same AS command atblock 332 in FIG. 3B). At block 306, RIP 145 sets a status thereof to“busy” as a consequence to receiving the print job. At block 308, RIP145 may generate an image corresponding to a first page of the printjob. Then, at block 310, RIP 145 may send the generated image to printengine 150 along with a print command. Print engine 150 then determineswhether this same generated image is received from RIP 145 at block 340in FIG. 3B.

Referring back to FIG. 3A, RIP 145 may then determine (at block 312)whether or not the image generated at block 308 corresponds to a lastpage of the print job. At block 314, if the image generated from block308 does correspond to the last page of the print job, RIP 145 thenclears its status and indicates to print engine 150 that RIP 145 is notbusy processing any print job pages (the status being indicated as aresponse to an SRO request of print engine 150 at block 336 in FIG. 3B).Imaging device 110 may then return to idle state where RIP 145 is instandby mode for another print job. In the event that RIP 145 determinesthat the print job includes a subsequent page, RIP 145 generates animage corresponding to the subsequent page of the print job (returningto block 308) and sends the generated image to print engine 150 (block310). Actions in blocks 308 and 310 are repeated for all othersubsequent pages of the print job. When repeating actions in blocks 308and 310, the RIP state of RIP 145 is maintained as busy.

FIG. 3B includes blocks 330-366 that are performed by print engine 150in conjunction with blocks 302-314 in FIG. 3A described above. At block330, following a POR of imaging device 110, print engine 150 may enablethe AS and SRO functions. At block 332, print engine 150 may receive anAS command from RIP 145 which is sent by RIP 145 at block 304 in FIG.3A.

At block 334, print engine 150 may determine whether or not the ASfunction is enabled in imaging device 110. In one aspect, determiningwhether or not the AS function is enabled may depend on whether or notthe AS function has been disabled while processing a previous print jobprior to the transition of imaging device 110 to an idle state. At block336, upon a determination that the AS function is enabled, print engine150 is powered up and, in particular, starts operating (i.e.,transitions to a printing state). Then, at block 338, print engine 150waits for a job page image or any print-job related information from RIP145. Block 338 may be performed within a predetermined timeout such as,for example, 5 seconds. At block 340, print engine 150 may determinewhether or not a job page image is received from RIP 145, as sent by RIP145 at block 310 in FIG. 3A.

Still referring to FIG. 3B, upon receipt of an image from RIP 145, printengine 150 may print the received job page image onto a correspondingmedia sheet at block 348. At block 350, print engine 150 then determineswhether or not other job page images for printing exist and, if so,print engine 150 again performs block 348 where print engine 150 printseach of the other images received from RIP 145 onto corresponding mediasheets, per blocks 308 and 310 in FIG. 3A.

Referring back to block 334, upon a determination by print engine 150that the AS function is not enabled, print engine 150 may not respond tothe AS command sent by RIP 145 (per block 304, FIG. 3A). Instead printengine 150 may proceed to block 356 where print engine 150 waits for aprint command prior to starting up. In waiting for the print command,printing is held off and, with the printing time being dependent uponreceipt of a print command, a time to first print in imaging device 110may be increased.

At block 340, in an example context where print engine 150 did notreceive any job page image from RIP 145 following the predeterminedtimeout period, print engine 150 may disable the AS and SRO functions(block 352). At block 354, print engine 150 may be stopped following theprocessing of a first print job and imaging device 110 may be returnedto the idle state. At block 356, print engine 150 may wait for a printcommand prior to starting up (block 358). When a job page image is inqueue for printing, print engine 150 prints the job page image (block348) and determines whether or not all other images associated with theprint job have been printed (block 350). If other print job images havenot been printed, print engine 150 prints each of the other imagesreceived from RIP 145 per blocks 308 and 310 in FIG. 3A prior proceedingto block 360 in FIG. 3B.

At block 360, when all the images that are queued for printing by printengine 150 have been printed, print engine 150 may then determinewhether or not the SRO function is enabled in imaging device 110. Atblock 362, when the SRO function is determined to be disabled, printengine 150 may be stopped prior to setting imaging device 110 to an idlestate, and an SRO request may not be sent from print engine 150 to RIP145. At block 364, when the SRO function is determined to be enabled,print engine 150 may send an SRO request to RIP 145 to determine whetheror not it should shut down following printing the print job. At block366, print engine 150 then determines whether or not RIP 145 is busybased upon a status set by RIP 145 at time when the SRO request is sent.Upon a determination that RIP 145 is busy processing images of the sameprint job or images of a new print job (based on blocks 306 to 312 inFIG. 3A), print engine 150 again performs blocks 338 to 360. If, atblock 366, print engine 150 determines that RIP 145 is not busy or thata status thereof is clear (based on block 314 in FIG. 3A), then printengine 150 may inform controller 135 to set imaging device 110 to anidle state.

In one example embodiment, a counter value may be used as a basis isdetermining whether or not the AS and SRO functions are to be enabledfollowing a period where a normal printing operation is observed whilethe AS and SRO functions are disabled. The counter value may be set to afirst value (e.g., zero) following POR and to a second value every timethe AS and SRO functions are disabled. The counter value may beregularly updated following every instance that an image is beingprocessed by print engine 150 without any delay or drawback. In oneexample embodiment of the present disclosure, a counter value is set tothe second value (i.e., predetermined MAX count) upon the detection ofchurn and is updated every time that an image is processed without anyproblems until the second value equals the first value.

In particular, and with reference to block 352 of FIG. 3B, where the ASand SRO functions are disabled based upon the image being not receivedfrom RIP 145 within the predetermined timeout, print engine 150 mayaccordingly set the counter value to the second predetermined maximumvalue prior to stopping print engine 150. At block 342, the countervalue may be decremented every time an image is received within thetimeout until the second value is determined to reach its initial value(zero) following POR (see block 330). At block 344, print engine 150 maythen determine whether or not the counter value reached the initialvalue following POR, and if so, at block 346, print engine 150re-enables the AS and SRO functions prior to printing the image (block348). Other alternative methods for tracking a number of times that animage is generated and/or received on time may be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

Reference will now be made with respect to second example method 400 inFIGS. 4A and 4B. Example method 400 may include RIP 145 receiving aprint job from client device 105, detecting slow image generationcausing the churn, and based on the slow image generation, disabling theAS function by not sending an AS command to print engine 150 (betweenblocks 406 and 410 of FIG. 4A) and disabling the SRO function byindicating to print engine 150 that no jobs are being processed orignoring an SRO request from print engine 150 (between blocks 410 and414 of FIG. 4A).

At block 402, following a POR of imaging device 110, RIP 145 may enablethe AS and SRO functions. At block 404, where imaging device 110 ispowered on after being idle, RIP 145 may receive a print job from clientdevice 105. At block 406, RIP 145 may determine whether or not the ASfunction is enabled based upon a presence of churn or a previous statusof the function on imaging device 110. At block 408, upon adetermination that the AS function is enabled, RIP 145 may send an AScommand to print engine 150 for preparing print engine 150 for printing.(The same AS command is received by print engine 150 at block 440 ofFIG. 4B). Otherwise, upon a determination that the AS function isdisabled, no AS command may be sent from RIP 145 to print engine 150,and RIP 145 may proceed to performing block 410 following block 406.

Continuing with FIG. 4A, following blocks 406 and 408, RIP 145 maydetermine whether or not the SRO function is enabled at block 410. Atblock 412, if the SRO function is enabled, RIP 145 may set the statusthereof as “busy” for print engine 150 to refer to when an SRO requestis received by RIP 145 from print engine 150 (block 460 in FIG. 4B).Otherwise, when the SRO function is disabled, RIP 145 may eitherindicate in response to the SRO request of print engine 150 (block 460of FIG. 4B) that it is not busy processing any print jobs or ignore anySRO request from print engine 150 (also block 460 of FIG. 4B) so as tocause print engine 150 to shut down following processing of the printjob.

Referring back to FIG. 4A, following blocks 410 and 412, at block 414,RIP 145 generates an image corresponding to the first page of the printjob. At block 416, RIP 145 may determine whether the image is generatedpast a set time limit. If the image is generated past a set limit, RIPmay disable the AS and SRO functions at block 418. Additionally, atblock 418, RIP 145 may clear a status thereof and indicate this changein status when an SRO request is received from print engine 150 (alsoblock 460 of FIG. 4B). At block 420, RIP 145 then sends the generatedimage to print engine 150 along with a print command for starting up.

Similar to at least blocks 340, 342, and 344 in FIG. 3B, a counter valuemay be used as a basis in determining whether or not to maintain the ASand SRO functions as disabled or have them enabled. Referring back toblock 416 in FIG. 4A, upon a determination that the image is generatedwithin the time limit, RIP 145 may decrement the counter value fortracking the instance when the image is generated within the time limit(block 422). At block 424, RIP 145 may determine whether or not thecounter value reached the initial value (e.g., zero) set following POR.At block 426, upon a determination that the counter value has reachedthe initial set value, RIP 145 may enable the AS and SRO functions andset a status thereof as busy for reference by print engine 150 whenprint engine 150 sends an SRO request (see block 460 of FIG. 4B). Upon adetermination that the counter value did not reach the initial value orfollowing block 426, RIP 145 may send the image generated from block 414to print engine 150 along with a print command for printing the image(block 420). This same image is received by print engine 150 in block448 of FIG. 4B.

Continuing with FIG. 4A, RIP 145 may determine (block 428) whether ornot the image generated at block 414 corresponds to a last page of theprint job. If the image corresponds to the last page of the print job,RIP 145 may clear a status thereof prior returning imaging device 110 toan idle state at block 430. This updated status of RIP 150 may beindicated to print engine 150 when an SRO request (per block 460, FIG.4B) is made. Otherwise, upon a determination that the print job includesadditional pages, RIP 145 again performs blocks 414 to 420 until a lastpage of the print job is determined.

Reference is now made to blocks 440-464 in FIG. 4B, which are performedin conjunction with blocks 402-430 in FIG. 4A. It will be noted thatFIG. 4B includes actions that are known in the field of printing jobpage images.

At block 440, where imaging device 110 is either initially powered on orpowered on after being idle, print engine 150 may receive a printcommand or an AS command from RIP 145. The AS command and the printcommand may be sent by RIP 145 at blocks 408 and 420 in FIG. 4A,respectively. At block 442 of FIG. 4B, print engine 150 may thendetermine whether or not an AS command is received. At block 444, upon adetermination that an AS command is received, print engine 150 may startoperating at a printing state. At block 446, print engine 150 waits foran image generated by RIP 145 at block 420 in FIG. 4A. Similar to block338 in FIG. 3B, block 446 in FIG. 4B may be performed within apredetermined timeout period. At block 448, print engine 150 maydetermine whether or not a job page image is received and if so, printsthe job page image (block 450). Upon a determination at block 448 thatthe image is not received on time or that no image is received withinthe timeout period from RIP 145, print engine 150 may be stopped (block454) and imaging device 110 may be set to an idle state. At block 456,print engine 150 may be configured to wait for a print command (whichmay be from block 420 in FIG. 4A) prior to starting up (block 458).

Following block 450, at block 452, print engine 150 may then determinewhether the print queue is empty or whether more job page images are tobe printed. At block 460, upon a determination that the print queue isempty, print engine 150 may send an SRO request to RIP 145. At block462, print engine 150 may determine whether or not RIP 145 is busy basedon information received from the request sent at block 460. Suchinformation on the status of RIP 145 may be based on the actions inblocks 412 or 430. When RIP 145 is busy processing other print jobpages, print engine 150 may repeat the actions in blocks 446 to 460. Atblock 464, upon a determination that RIP 145 is not busy based on astatus of RIP 145 when the SRO request is sent (block 412 or 430 in FIG.4A), print engine 150 may be stopped, and imaging device 110 may bereturned to idle state.

It will be appreciated that the actions described and shown in theexample flowcharts may be carried out or performed in any suitableorder. It will also be appreciated that not all of the actions describedin FIGS. 2, 3A-3B, and 4A-4B need to be performed in accordance with theexample embodiments and/or additional actions may be performed inaccordance with other example embodiments of the disclosure.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thesedisclosure pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reducing component wear in animaging device, comprising: by a raster image processor of the imagingdevice, receiving a print job; determining whether one or more functionfeatures in the imaging device is disabled prior processing the printjob; adjusting a default printing performance of the imaging device upona determination that the one or more function features in the imagingdevice is disabled; generating a rasterized image for each page of theprint job following the adjusting; and sending each rasterized image toa print engine of the imaging device for printing, wherein the adjustingthe printing performance of the imaging device reduces the componentwear in the imaging device, wherein the adjusting the printingperformance includes not sending a command instructing the print engineto transition to a printing state in response to receiving the print joband increasing a time to first print of the imaging device as a resultof not sending the command.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theadjusting the printing performance includes sending an instruction tothe print engine for the print engine to shut down following processingof the print job upon a determination that the one or more functionfeatures in the imaging device is disabled and decreasing a throughputof the imaging device as a result of sending the instruction.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the determining includes identifying by theraster image processor a state of a first function feature and a stateof a second function feature of the one or more function features in theimaging device from a controller of the imaging device, the state beingone of a disabled state and an enabled state.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the first function feature includes an advanced start functionincluding instructions to power on the print engine to a printing statefollowing receipt of a print job when the print engine is in idle state.5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second function feature includes asmart run-out function including instructions to keep the power enginepowered on as long as a rasterized image is being generated by theraster image processor.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtracking a number of times that the rasterized image is generatedwithout a slow image generation and reverting back to the defaultprinting performance of the imaging device upon a determination that thenumber of times exceeded a predetermined counter value.
 7. A method ofreducing wear on one or more imaging components in an imaging device,comprising: receiving a print job; determining whether a defaultprinting performance of the imaging device needs to be adjusted based ona previous print job following receipt of the print job; upon a positivedetermination, disabling at least one of a set of functions performed inthe imaging device for achieving the default printing performance; andsending a rasterized image corresponding to each page of the print jobto a print engine of the imaging device for printing, wherein thedisabling the at least one of the set of functions reduces the defaultprinting performance of the imaging device and reducing the defaultprinting performance results in a reduction of the wear on the one ormore imaging components in the imaging device thus increasing anallowable life of the one or more imaging components and wherein thedetermining includes detecting a network connectivity problem whilereceiving the print job and disabling the at least one of the set offunctions performed in the imaging device in response to detecting thenetwork connectivity problem to reduce the default printing performance.8. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting that the networkconnectivity problem is absent and reverting back to the defaultprinting performance wherein the at least one of the set of functions isenabled following the detecting.
 9. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising generating a rasterized image corresponding to each page ofthe print job prior the sending, detecting a slow image generation whilegenerating each rasterized image, and disabling the set of functions inresponse to detecting the slow image generation to reduce the defaultprinting performance of the imaging device and to reduce wear on the oneor more imaging components.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein thedetermining includes detecting a slow image generation prior sendingeach rasterized image and disabling at least one of the set of functionsperformed in the imaging in response to detecting the slow imagegeneration to reduce the default printing performance of the imagingdevice.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising using a reducedprinting performance in processing a second print job following theprint job upon disabling the at least one of the set of functions,wherein using the reduced printing performance increases the allowablelife of the one or more imaging components.
 12. The method of claim 7,wherein the at least one of the set of functions includes a firstfunction for instructing the print engine to transition to a printingstate following the receiving of the print job and a second function forinstructing the print engine to remain in the printing state followingprocessing of the print job and while processing a second print job. 13.The method of claim 7, further comprising tracking a number of timesthat the rasterized image is sent to the print engine without disablingthe at least one of the set of functions and reverting back to thedefault printing performance upon a determination that the number oftimes exceeded a predetermined counter value.
 14. An imaging deviceincluding a method for reducing component wear in the imaging device,comprising: a controller having an associated memory, the memoryincluding instructions for executing a set of functions for achieving adefault printing performance of the imaging device; a raster imageprocessor for generating a rasterized image for each page of a printjob; and a print engine for outputting the rasterized image onto a mediasheet passed through the imaging device, wherein the raster imageprocessor includes instructions to: determine prior processing the printjob whether at least one of the set of functions are disabled; reducethe default printing performance upon a determination that the at leastone of the set of functions are disabled; and send each rasterized imageto the print engine for printing using the reduced default printingperformance following performing the instructions to reduce the defaultprinting performance, wherein performing the instructions to reduce thedefault printing performance result in the component wear in the imagingdevice to be reduced and wherein the raster image processor furtherincludes instructions to determine whether slow image generation existsduring one of prior and during the sending of each rasterized image tothe print engine and to disable the at least one of the set of functionsupon a positive determination for reference by the raster imageprocessor when another print job is received in the imaging device. 15.The imaging device of claim 14, wherein the set of functions includes anadvanced start function including instructions to power on the printengine to a printing state from being in an idle state following receiptof a print job in the imaging device and a smart run-out functionincluding instructions to keep the power engine powered on as long as arasterized image is being generated by the raster image processor. 16.The imaging device of claim 15, wherein the default printing performanceof the imaging device is observed when the advanced start function andthe smart run-out function of the imaging device are enabled.
 17. Theimaging device of claim 14, wherein the raster image processor furtherincludes instructions to track a number of occurrences where the slowimage generation is absent and to enable the set of functions when thenumber of occurrences exceeds a predetermined limit to revert a printingperformance of the imaging device back to the default printingperformance.